It was the grand opening of the FDCI x Lakmé Fashion Week by couturier Tarun Tahiliani wherein he unveiled his extravagant collection which comprised often diverse capsule lines for Autumn/Winter 2021. The digital preview which was unveiled on October 5th was showcased through a special film that had been commissioned for the occasion in a beautiful modern Indian bungalow recently designed and built in Delhi.
The new-season line-up was presented at a difficult time,that had not only upended our lives but the way we dress up as well.
Key Elements
· Imaginative, vividly coloured, and designed to showcase Tarun’s signature drapes with a contemporary twist, the ace couturier unveiled the collection as a digital and a physical show,which married his craft-rich aesthetics with a refined approach
· Effortless fluidity and timelessness of Indian crafts bringing a contemporary touch to these classic traditional crafts, Tarun selected fabrics like organza, silk, brocade, tulle, raw silk and then added crushed chanderi for more variety
Fashion Story
A multiverse of inspiration, the AW ‘21 collection was a compendium of time-tested craft techniques brought to the forefront as mini capsule collections –Molten Haveli, Temple Mauli, Pichwai, Chikankari, Pakeezagi, Divine Drapes, Shesh Mahal, Ragrez, Brocade and Bridalas part of the larger showcase which was ‘The Reunion’.
Celebrating deep tones of reds, greens and golds, Molten Haveli took a deep-dive into jaali patterns, where the luminous tones played with light and shadow while highlighting the intricacy of each manipulation by means of cascading lehengas designed for intimate celebrations. Another collection celebrating the majestic colours was Rangrez, wherein thousands of meters of woven brocade strips were cut out and applied on different forms. Inspired by the auspicious looks from the scene outside Badrinath temple along with the Rabari craft, Temple Mauli was an expression of an eye-catching, vivid colour palette created with the help of textiles like organza, silk, and brocade. This was showcased in an array of wide-ranging silhouettes like lehengas, kurtas, shararas, conceptual saris, gilets, and capes, soaked in a multitude of motifs.
Moving from Badrinath to Rajasthan, the Pichwai collection took inspiration from the ancient Indian paintings of the state,which depictedmonochromatic scenes of the Raasleela and Tahiliani’s traditional motifs from peacocks to cows and lotuses. The Chikankari capsule was reminiscent of the tomb of I’timād-ud-Daulah in Agra, whose latticed carvings and inlay work formed the basis of themotifs. Lastly, the bridal capsule saw the traditional bridal reds along with the renowned beiges and pastels which have formed the backbone of many collections by the designer.
Tarun Tahiliani
“Having seen all that got produced at the India Couture Week, it was great to come back to Indian fashion, which had also taken a back seat during the pandemic full of sweatpants and easy-breezy living. With this presentation we showcased our collection of draped evening lehengas, occasion-wear and bridal looks with a serious modern twist.”
He further added that the Autumn-Winter ’21 show, The Reunion, which took place as a physical show on the 7th of October, was aimed at bringing back a night of revelry and fun. “It was an invitation to a sundowner where we met loved ones again, and celebrated our togetherness, our souls and our lives”.
Sunil Sethi, Chairman FDCI said
“The TarunTahiliani label is one of the most pioneering labels in India. It has been an absolute pleasure to have the master courtier showcase his latest work at the joint phygital edition of FDCI and Lakmé Fashion Week. There couldn’t have been a better way to kickstart the on-ground, live showcases.”
Jaspreet Chandok, Head RISE Fashion and Lifestyle said
“Tarun has always set an unparalleled benchmark with all of his showcases. We couldn’t have been happier to have his latest collection kickstart our physical showcases at the Jio World Convention Centre.”
As an exclusive pre-launch initiative, and as a precursor to global scale marquee events, the guests of the Opening show got a sneak-preview and experience of the Jio World Convention Centre (JWCC) in Mumbai’s commercial hub Bandra-Kurla Complex. Jio World Convention Centre has been envisioned by Mrs. Nita Ambani, the founder and head of India’s largest corporate foundation and initiator of world class efforts in fields like education, healthcare, sports and the arts.